Display means



May 11, 1965 R. R. SNEDIKER DISPLAY MEANS Filed May 15, 1962 INV EN TOR Haber) f2 Sned/lrer United States Patent Office 3,132,414 Patented May 11, 1%65 3,132,414 DISPLAY MEANS Robert R. Snediker, Winnetka, IlL, assignor to Chicago Show Printing Company, Chicago, IlL, a corporation of Illinois Filed May 15, 1962, Ser. No. 194,803 Claims. (Cl. 40-425) This invention relates to a display means, for example, of the type used for advertising and for similar purposes.

It is well known that various signs and placards have been used which carry information designed to inform the public as to certain facts. A common application of such signs and placards is in the advertising field where words and pictorial designs are employed to convey information concerning products, services, etc.

In the design of displays, it is quite common to employ means whereby the information is visible from two or more directions. Thus, cards suitable for attachment to poles may have information on both sides thereby utilizing all of the available display surfaces. Furthermore, it has been prior practice to attach the cards in back-to-back relationship and to suspend them from a pole or other standard with the outer surfaces of the cards displaying information.

It is an object of this invention to provide improvements in display means whereby information can be displayed in a variety of ways to provide more suitable results.

In particular, it is an object of this invention to provide a display means having a plurality of display surfaces for exhibiting information and which also includes means for exposing and covering various ones of the display surfaces whereby messages can be alternately presented.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a display means which is particularly suitable for use in combination with a display pole or similar display standard and which has means for changing messages to be displayed.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter and, for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, specific embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of 'a display means characterized by the features of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the display means shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one corner of the assembled display means.

The present invention generally provides a display as- I sembly which comprises a generally planar front member and a generally planar rear member secured together in back-to-back relationship. The assembly includes a movable member preferably attached at one side which is adapted for swinging movement wtih respect to the planar members. The movable member is provided with means for securing it over the surfaces of the planar members whereby displays carried by the planar members can be alternately covered and exposed by the movable member. The display assembly of this invention is particularly suited for removable attachment to a pole or similar upstanding standard. A clamp means of special design is provided for securing the display means to the pole Whereby the .display means can be efficiently mounted and removed. i

' In order to accommodate the movable member in a highly eflicient fashion, securing means are provided on the planar members which are adapted for holding the planar members together and which also cooperate to hold the movable member in position. These securing means preferably comprise flexible strips adapted to pass through slots formed in the planar members and in the movable member thereby providing readily detachable securement.

The drawings will serve to provide a specific illustration of a display means embodying the features of this invention. There is shown a display assembly 10 which is mounted on a pole 12. A clamp means 14, formed of two sections, is fastened to the pole by means of a threaded rod 16 and nuts 18. The sections of the clamp are each provided with recessed central portions 20 which fit around the pole and they also include extending portions 22 which are apertured to receive threaded rods 24.

A pair of generally planar display portions 26 and 27 are included in the display assembly 10. These display portions are secured to the clamp 14 by means of wing nuts 28 and rods 24. In addition, a wire 30, passing through holes 32 formed in the display portions, serves to hold these portions in proper alignment with respect to the pole 12.

The display portions 26 and 27 are preferably provided with reinforced slats 34. In a typical embodiment, the display portions are formed of cardboard and the slats of wood. However, any combination of suitable materials can be employed.

Short threaded rods 36 extend through the display portions 26 and 27 along one vertical edge, and the display portions are held together at this edge by means of wing nuts 38. As illustrated, the slats and display portions are joined so that the vertical edges are substantially in contact. This results in a certain degree of bowing in these display portions and the amount of bowing will depend on the size of the pole or other standard with which the assembly is joined. In certain cases this bow in the assembly will be virtually eliminated.

Along the opposite vertical edge of the assembly, the display portions 26 and 27 are joined by means of threaded rod 40 and wing nuts 42. The strips 44 are fastened at one end on the display portion 26 and the free end of these strips is adapted to fit into slots 46 formed in the display portion 27. The primary function of the strips 44 will be explained hereinafter; however, it will be apparent that these strips also aid in holding the display portions 26 and 27 in position. Thus, the rod 40 need only be provided in the upper corner while the strips 44 will maintain the display portions together at points below this upper corner.

A movable display portion 48 is located for swinging movement about one vertical edge of the display portion 26. This movable display portion and the associated portion 26 may be an integral piece of cardboard creased at St to permit bending at this point. Alternatively, any suitable hinge means may be utilized to connect the movable and stationary display portions. It .will also be apparent that the movable display portion could be connected to either of the stationary display portions 26 or 27 or to other means located adjacent one vertical edge of these portions.

The movable display portion 48 is provided with large holes 52 and the wing nuts protruding from the faces of the display portions 26 and 27 are adapted to be received in these holes. Wtih this arrangement, the movable display portion can be swung around to fit flush over the face of either one of the display portions 26 and 27.

The display portion 48 is also provided with slots 54 which are adapted to engage the free ends of flexible strips 56 which are secured to the front face of the display portion 26. Therefore, when the display portion 48 swings over the front face 26 it can be held in position by means of the flexible strips 56. A crease 58 is provided in the movable portion 48 to facilitate swinging movement.

As shown by means of the dotted lines in FIGURE 2, the display portion 48 is also adapted to cover the face.

of display portion 27. To hold the portion 48 in position over the portion 27, the slots 5 are adapted to face of the portion 26 and the surface 6d of the movable,

portion 48can be provided with the same information. Accordingly, the movable portion 48 can be swung back over the surface of the portion 27 whereby the sign will exhibit the same information on both viewing surfaces. The display surface of the portion 27 and the opposite surface 62 of the portion '48 can also be provided with the same information, although different than the information on the other display portions. Therefore, when the movable member 48 is swung around to cover the display portion 26, the displayed material will be changed. However, those viewing the sign will see the same material from either side.

i The described assembly is highly useful, since at least two different advertisements or other information to be displayed can be provided with, a single mounting opera-,

tion. Thus, the sign can be employed for exhibiting one set of information for a given period of time and the material exhibited can then be changed without replace-. ment of the sign. Other uses may involve the provision of different information on each of the four display surfaces, and the information can be alternately displayed in any given sequence.

The described invention is particularly directed to an assembly having a pair of stationary display portions and a swinging display portion associated therewith. Furthermore, the. assembly describedis particularly effective when employed in combination with a pole. However, the concept of the movable portion can be incorporated in combination withinterconnected stationary portions which are not-necessarily in a substantially parallel relationship. Thus, two stationary portions may meet at a substantial angle and the movable display portion located at this juncture. than two stationary display portions and more than one movable member are contemplated. Finally, it is not necessary that each of the display surfaces be utilized at all times.v V s It will be understood that various modifications may be made in the :above described display means which provide the characteristics of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, particularly as defined in the fol- 'members, each of said members carrying displays where by said movable member can provide for covering and exposing of different ones of said displays and whereby a display can be located on each side of said movable member with either side being adapted to be exposed depending. on which surface of said front and rear member is covered by said movable member, and wherein at least some ofthe, means employed for securing said front and rear members together alsoserve to secure said movable member over the surface ofat least one. of the front and rear members.v a

2. A display assembly comprising a front display member, a rear display member, means for securing said In addition, constructions using more assembly for swinging movement with respect to said front and rear members and means for securing the free end of said movable member'over one or the other of the surfaces of said frontand rear members, each of said members carrying displays whereby said movable member can provide for covering and exposing of different ones of said displays, and whereby a display can be located on each side of said movable member with either side being adapted to be exposed depending on which surface ,of said front and rear members is covered by said movable member, and wherein at least some of the means for securing said front and rear members together along the vertical edge opposite the attachment of the movable member also serve to secure the free end of said movable member.

3. A display assembly adapted to be removably fas- 'alongone side of said first mentioned display members for swinging movement with respect to said first mentioned display members, and means for securing the, free end of said movable member over one or the other of the surfaces of said first mentioned display members, each of said display members being adapted to carry displays whereby said movable member can provide for covering and exposing of different ones of said displays.

4. A display member according to claim 3 including a plurality of flexible strips vertically arranged along one edge of one of saidfirst mentioned display members opposite the attachment for said movable member, said strips being fixed at their ends with the opposite free ends adapted to be bent outwardly, and slots formed in the other of said first mentioned display members and in the free end of said movable member whereby said strips can be inserted in said slots to serve as securing means.

5.-A'display assembly adapted to be removably fastened to a pole comprising a front display member, a rear display member, a clamp means located on said pole, means for attaching said front and rear members to said clamp means, and means for securing said front and rear members attheir respective vertical edges in back-to-back relationship whereby said members assume an arcuate configuration, a movable display member comprising an integral. extension of said" front display member, said movable memberv extending laterally from one of said verticaledges and being adapted to swing with respect to said front and rear members, and means for securing the free end of saidmovable member over one or. the other of the surfaces-of said front and rear members, the outer surfaces of said front and rear members and each of the surfaces of said movable mernber carrying displays whereby said movable member can provide for selective covering and exposing ofthe surfaces 'of said front and rear members and whereby one of the surfaces of said movable member will be exposed depending on which of the front andrear members is covered thereby. 7

FOREIGN: PATENTS 1,093,345 11/54 France. a EEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner CHARLES A. WILLMUTH; Examiner. 

3. A DISPLAY ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY FASTENED TO A POLE COMPRISING A FRONT DISPLAY MEMBER, A REAR DISPLAY MEMBER, A CLAMP MEANS LOCATED ON SAID POLE, MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE DISPLAY MEMBERS TO SAID CLAMP MEANS, AND MEANS FOR SECURING SAID DISPLAY MEMBERS AT THEIR RESPECTIVE VERTICAL EDGES IN BACK-TO-BACK RELATIONSHIP WHEREBY SAID MEMBERS ASSUME AN ARCUATE CONFIGURATION, A MOVABLE DISPLAY MEMBER ATTACHED TO SAID ASSEMBLY ALONG ONE SIDE OF SAID FIRST MENTIONED DISPLAY MEMBERS FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST MENTIONED DISPLAY MEMBERS, AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE FREE END OF SAID MOVABLE MEMBER OVER ONE OR THE OTHER OF THE SURFACES OF SAID FIRST MENTIONED DISPLAY MEMBERS, EACH OF SAID DISPLAY MEMBERS BEING ADAPTED TO CARRY DISPLAYS WHEREBY SAID MOVABLE MEMBER CAN PROVIDE FOR COVERING AND EXPOSING OF DIFFERENT ONES OF SAID DISPLAYS. 